by Brian Desmond and Alan Collins SPRING TOUR 2003 2 MARCH: The Briery Gap, Macroom (026 42421) 4-15 MARCH: The Cork Arts Theatre (021 450 8398) 19-20 MARCH: Dundalk IT (042 937 0200) 22 MARCH: Friars Gate, Kilmallock (086 98727) 1-3 APRIL: The Helix, Dublin (01 700 7119) 4 APRIL: Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda (041 983 3946) 8-12 APRIL: Town Hall Theatre, Galway (091 569 755) 17 APRIL: Wexford Arts Centre (053 23764) Bertie Bickle likes cakes. Bertie likes céilí dancers, céilí dresses, bedtime stories and staying up late. Bertie has a Guardian Angel, so he's never short of a tip on the horses when he's low on money. Bertie also likes Rua Tackle, the local hairdresser. But Rua is married to Willy Tackle, the local councillor, and when Willy closes down the hairdressing salon and Bertie's favourite cake-shop, Bertie decides to take the law into his own hands. Four actors perform over 100 characters in this irreverent, outlandish comedy. Performed in BYOB's unique blend of physical comedy, song, dance, clowning and traditional Irish story-telling, this national tour of THE BALLAD OF BADGER BICKLE’S YOUNGFELLA follows in the wake of its highly successful run at the Dublin Fringe Festival 2002 where it played to full houses and received a five-star review from The Irish Times. For further information please contact BYOB at: +353 (0)86 310 4670 +353 (0)21 436 1710 or by e-mail at byobanana@hotmail.com PRESS QUOTES FOR THE BALLAD OF BADGER BICKLE'S YOUNGFELLA “ * * * * * … Brilliant ” The Irish Times, Oct 2002 “bursting with quirky, versatile energy … delightful, original, refreshing theatre” The Irish Times, Oct 2002 “the best thing I’ve seen at this year’s Fringe Festival” Rattlebag, RTE Radio 1, Oct 2002 “indefatigable intensity and inventiveness … a relentless 90-minute whirlwind of a production” The Irish Independent, Oct 2002 “a virtuoso display of energy and ingenuity … manic, dark edged comedy … sheer entertainment” Irish Theatre Magazine, November 2002